Compulsory Voting at Local Government Elections

The Tasmanian Premier advocates that voting at Local Government elections in Tasmania should become compulsory.
Over many years this issue has been discussed regularly at Local Government Association of Tasmania meetings, and has repeatedly been rejected as unnecessary and not warranted.
Furthermore, the devil is in the detail as always. If you own land in Hobart but live in Kentish, should voting in Hobart elections be compulsory? If you rent a house in Kentish should you have to vote here?
Failure to vote incurs a $20 fine. I could imagine that Councils would be very unpopular if they sent out fines for this.
I think we do not need compulsory voting.

What do you think?

A new fire engine for Sheffield

Just before Christmas the Sheffield Fire Brigade took possession of an almost new fire truck. Carrying 3000 litres of water (which it can deliver in under two minutes if required !!) the truck is fast and ultra reliable.

Tas Fire Service District Officer Paul Hill completed the handover on Tuesday 23rd December 2008. He commended the Sheffield voluntary brigade for the great work they do, and commented that the new truck should help them further.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Sheffield Fire Crew for their time and dedication, and wish them all the best for the future year.

Photos show Paul Hill, myself, and Sheffield Brigade Chief Mark Furley, and the Sheffield Fire crew in front of the new truck.

Weindorfer Memorial at Cradle Mountain

On January 1st the Weindorfer Memorial Service Committee held a service to mark the day 100 years ago when Gustav Weindorfer had first visited Cradle Mountain. Weindorfer was to later go on and build Waldheim, a chalet to encourage visitors to the area. He also lobbied government to set aside the whole Cradle area as a National Park, which it now is.

Carol and I were asked to attend the service in period costume. We were transported to the event by Park Ranger Eddie Firth in a beautiful vintage Chevrolet. This vehicle is the same model as belonged to a close friend of Weindorfers, Major Ronald Smith. Major Smith's son Charles was present at the event, and enjoyed seeing the vehicle. Charles Smith has his fathers original Chev in pieces in his shed, awaiting reconstruction.

Recycling

Yesterday I went to see Veolia's recycling shed at Spreyton.  They only bundle up paper and cardboard there at present but over the next six months it will have a machine there to sort all recyclables from kerbside collection and transfer stations.  This machine sorts cans, plastics, paper and cardboard by a variety of different methods including weight, density and magnetism.  Veolia find profitable markets for recyclables.

Spreyton manager Peter George showed me around and gave me an idea where everything will go.  They employ 29 people now and this will increase to about 35 with the new machine.

The great thing is  that recyclables will end up being useful rather than just being landfill.

With most of the the north-west Councils getting together to put their recyclables through here, it makes an economy of scale. 

Strategic Planning

All Councils in Tasmania are required to have a current five year strategic plan.

In writing these plans Councils go to the community as much as possible to  get the ideas, comments, and feelings of everyone who will offer their input.  

Kentish is making plans for the next five years.  This is your chance to have a say in issues that affect you and everyone in Kentish.

What do you want from Council?

How can Council do things better?

We need you to tell us.  Now!

Go to www.kentish.tas.gov.au click on strategic planning and go for it.

Water and Sewerage

OK now you could not expect to have a council based blog or diary and NOT have a section on water and sewerage.    This is it.

Readers may be aware that all Councils in Tasmania have been required by the State Government to join their water and sewerage assets into three regional water bodies, with one further body acting as the Common Services Corporation.

I went to a meeting in Ulverstone last week where some people within the formative new bodies believe this will be the very best model of water and sewerage provision in the WORLD.

This is very comforting as we are having a few problems on our own and we could do with a big brother to help us out.  Basically we need a few million dollars to purchase some land next to the Sheffield treatment plant to spread the effluent around on.  

According to Jim Martin of the North East water body,  no town of less than 3000 can economically provide water and sewerage services.  Well he is correct in the case of Sheffield.

We as a council may have to borrow the money required to fix our effluent disposal or risk facing big fines from the Environment department.  But borrowing this sort of money does not sit easily on my conscience, even if the new water body will take over the load in July 2009.

Dinner with DCCI and Saul Eslake

My good lady Carol and I were invited to a function run by the Devonport Chamber of Commerce and Industry last week where Saul Eslake, noted economist was guest speaker.

It was a great opportunity to network with some of the business people in the area, find out how their businesses are going, and catch up on some old acquaintances.

Saul Eslake spoke mainly about Art and its relationship to Business.

He had no advice on how to invest or look after your superannuation that he shared with us.

He believed that the present recession could be overcome by spending, especially by Governments, but it could just as easily all be lost as the markets are so fickle, and so much depends on little things like the optimism of traders.

He also believes that Peak Oil is not so much of a concern as Global Warming, which will change the way business works in the world, and will change our lives in ways we have not considered yet.  He believes that technology will find ways to keep us in our present lifestyles despite climate change and huge increases in the cost of fuel.